APGA candidate alleges election malpractise in Edo

The APGA gubernatorial candidate called for the cancellation of the election

He insisted that there was no election in the real sense

The candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Osaro Onaiwu, has called for the cancellation of the Edo state gubernatorial election which is currently undergoing collation.

Onaiwu who admitted that “the turnout was impressive because Edo people wanted change,” said the exercise was fraught with financial inducement and violence.“The people were disenfranchised by the PDP and APC. This is not the democracy we labored for, not the kind democracy we want to leave for our children.

“I asked for the cancellation since 2 pm (Wednesday) because there was no election. There was no election. In my unit where I voted, the APC thugs went there and they took the ballot box.”

The statement released by Samuel Aruwan, the special assistant to the governor on media and publicity on Wednesday reads in part: “Malam Nasir El-Rufai did not visit Edo state today, Wednesday, 28 September 2016.

Contrary to the fiction peddled by one of the candidates who made the accusation on live television. Edo state Governor Adams Oshiomhole has kindly rubbished the lie and made clear that Malam Nasir El-Rufai is nowhere near the state.

This clarification is made only to affirm a material fact. But it is important to stress that the laws of this country do not prevent any citizen from being in any part of the country.

While movement may be restricted on election days, that is not the same thing as construing the presence of any citizen in a state holding elections as illegal, unusual or irregular.

A specious attempt, similar to that made by a candidate in Edo today, was made by chieftains of a political party during the last governorship election in Anambra state.